Chronicle fileThe vacant Muskegon Correctional Facility, its residence area containing inmate cells shown here in this 2010 file photo, is not available for possible use for a Muskegon County Jail.

MUSKEGON COUNTY – Michigan's vacant state prison in Muskegon is off the table in the effort to augment Muskegon County's outdated and overcrowded jail.

Michigan Department of Corrections officials informed county representatives Tuesday during a conference call that the former Muskegon Correctional Facility will not be available for a potential jail site. Led by Sheriff Dean Roesler and Administrator Bonnie Hammersley, county officials have been investigating for months possible jail-replacement options, including the vacant prison at 2400 S. Sheridan.

Roesler said the vacant prison was a “very realistic” possibility for use as a jail if it would have been available. He said he has mixed feelings about DOC’s announcement.

Dean Roesler

“It’s good to know it’s not available so we can move forward,” Roesler said. “It’s somewhat unfortunate, because we were ready to push on with that if it was available.”

County officials had toured the former state prison with DOC leaders on more than one occasion last year. The county board commissioned a study by a detention facility consultant, recommended by the state, to help determine the feasibility of operating a jail in the former prison.

Based on an unscientific MLive poll, 59 percent of 87 voters favored using space in the former Muskegon Correctional Facility, if it was available, as a replacement for the jail.

A replacement facility for the jail, possibly also including the Juvenile Transition Center, was voted the No. 1 priority among department heads, elected officials and county commissioners last month at the completion of a two-day strategic planning session.

County commissioners recently discussed the possibility of looking at other large, vacant buildings in the area that could be altered and refurbished to be used as a jail.

As part of the ongoing investigation into various jail options, the county board also agreed to seek bid proposals for consulting services to conduct a feasibility study on other potential properties in the county that could be used for a new jail.

Construction of a new jail also remains an option. That consultant also would be asked to better determine the size of facility the county needs for years to come.

Roesler said his indications are that a new jail, whether a retrofit or a newly constructed facility, would require 500-600 beds.

“We need to look at over the long run what is best for Muskegon County,” Hammersley said.

County officials have been investigating various options during their years-long quest to replace the 50-plus-year-old jail many consider outdated, too small and a liability.